Transgender father leaves family to start life as 6-year-old girl after wife says 'stop being trans or leave'

A transgender father in Toronto left behind a wife and seven children to start life as a six-year-old girl after being told to "stop being trans or leave". Stefonknee Wolschtt now lives with an adoptive family and says they are "totally comfortable with me being a little girl".

Wolschtt, who was married for 23 years, told her story as part of a video for The Transgender Project, "an online collection of profiles designed to record, share and celebrate the personal stories of transgender women and men from across Canada".

In a number of videos, the 46-year-old describes being suicidal and going to hospital a month after taking part in the Toronto Pride Parade. She also speaks about dealing with her children rejecting her decision to be openly transgender. "'Stop being trans' isn't something I could do. It would be like telling me to stop being 6ft 2in or leave," Wolschtt said.

She says she now lives with an adoptive family and finds her life therapeutic. "It's called play therapy. No medication, no suicide thoughts. And I just get to play."

Speaking about her family, Wolschtt said: "I can't deny I was married. I can't deny I have children. But I've moved forward now and I've gone back to being a child." She is a Catholic and gets support from the Metropolitan Community Church in Toronto, a congregation that openly accepts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members.